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Dale Earnhardt Jr. must pass test to race at Martinsville

October 20, 2012

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has missed two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races with a concussion. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Reports that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been cleared to race and will return to action in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next weekend at Martinsville were a bit premature, team owner Rick Hendrick confirmed Sunday at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

"He's been cleared to race at Martinsville, so we're excited to get him back," Hendrick said during an interview on pit road after driver introductions. "Dale is a good friend. He means so much to the sport. He means so much to our company. And I care about him. But he's the sparkplug for this sport and our organization too. It just shows you how fragile things are and how you can get hurt in these cars. As much as we do to make them safe, things can happen.”

However, later on Sunday, Hendrick clarified his remarks.

“I want to apologize to all you guys [the media]," Hendrick said. "I gave you a little bad information out on pit road today. I've been out here at the dealerships and I did talk to the doctor [Dr. Jerry Petty, neurosurgeon] with Dale [Earnhardt Jr.] and he said everything looked good and everything was fine. However, I didn't know until [HMS PR director] Jesse [Essex] informed me that I had gotten ahead of myself and that there is a closed test Monday that Dr. Petty will attend.

"Dale will be back in the car [for that test] and he'll make the decision with a final test on Tuesday. So, we don't foresee any problems but I didn't read my emails this morning and I kind of got ahead of myself. I talked to the doctor myself and everything went good in Pittsburgh [Pa., where Earnhardt tested Tuesday] and Dr. Petty felt real good about it. And I did know that they were going to shake down a car, but I didn't know that the doctor was going, and that he would actually be evaluating him Tuesday [two separate tests/evaluations]. I apologize for that. The test [next] Tuesday is in his [Dr. Petty's] office. The test Monday is in the [race] car.”

Earnhardt has been out of action since suffering a concussion in a 25-car last-lap crash Oct. 7 at Talladega, his second concussion in fewer than six weeks. Suffering from headaches, Earnhardt sought medical attention Oct. 9 and was sidelined from the No. 88 Chevrolet for two races by neurologist Dr. Petty.

“I will be shocked if he's not in the car," Hendrick said. "Everything looks good."